Automatic phonograph



July 7, 1953 E. A. EBERT 5 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH I Filed Nov. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'KZ 7.9

INVENTOR y k mww ATTORNEY 5 y 1953 E. A. EBERT 2,644,565

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Nov. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY? y 7, 1953 E. A. EBERT 2,644,565

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 'iled Nov. 29, 1944 .1 I 32 10) a? 79 25 2a 760 10% 1/0 m ma 7/8 I 700 1.9 1:! n mi i If 4 INVENTOR add. Eben ATTORNEYi y 7, 1953 E. A. EBERT $644,565

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Nov. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 7, 1953 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Edward A. Ebert, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company,

North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application November 29, 1944, Serial No. 565,618

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic phonographs and more particularly is concerned with a phonograph of the kind which is operative to play in an uninterrupted sequence a plurality of pre-selected records.

The phonograph, in general, includes a plurality of trays which support the records in a vertical series, each tray being movable horizontally in response to the actuation of selector mechanism to an extended position over a turntable. The latter is located alongside and below the lowermost tray of the series and is operative, when a tray has been moved to an extended position, to lift the record supported thereby and carry it into and hold it in cooperating relation with the needle of the tone arm or re-. producer. When the record has been played'the turntable restores the record to its tray and returns' to its original position. The tray then moves back to its place in the series and the sequence of operation described is repeated until all of the records selected have been played.

In check or coin controlled automatic phonographs, the phonograph generally does not reproduce the records selected in the order of selection except by coincidence. In'certain phonographs the selector mechanism which moves the record trays or records from a magazin'eor stack to a reproducing means may be ofthe type which comes-to rest at a predetermined position or of the type which remains at rest when no more records are to be played at the position corresponding to thelast record played. In the type'where the selector comes to rest at a predetermined position the movement of the selector usually is to a certain point which brings about the reproduction of the lowest numbered record so that if the records selected are successive records having higher numbers, the phonograph through coincidence will reproduce the records in the order selected. If, however, first a higher numbered record is selected and then a lower numberedrecord, thephonograph may play the records in the inverse order of selection. Due to this peculiarity of operation'the customer may select a plurality of records and prior to the completion of the playing of those records a second customer may select one or more records which records may be played prior to the completion of the playing of the first group of selected records. This produces confusion which if eliminated would bring a great deal of satisfaction to the customers or users of the coin controlled automatic phonographs.

In the operation of check or coin controlled 2 automatic phonographs it is necessary to frequently change th records so that the largest possible selection of currently popular records may be provided by the phonograph. Current popularity, however, varies from community to community thus necessitatingsome manner of obtaining the information upon which to judge the popularity of the records provided by the phonograph. Those records which are least popular may be removed and others substituted and further observations made. In most cases the automatic phonograph is placed in a location on a lease or rental basis and the proprietor of the location cannot keep a record of the number of times each record is played so as to guide the proper selection of records at regular in-.

tervals. It, therefore, is desirable to provide some means whereby the popularity of the records played may be obtained. It furthermore would be desirable to have an indication of the total number of times that the phonograph reup the selections in the order selected so that the phonograph will reproduce the selections in that order. The preselecting means thus provided may also be arranged to simultaneously make a permanent record of each record se-.

lected. One manner of accomplishing such purposes is by an arrangement wherein a tape serves to record each selection in the order selected, and the tape controls the operation of the phonograph. The tape also serves as a permanent record for the number of times the phonograph is played and the number of times each record is played.

One object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of the type generally described wherein the selected records may be played in the order selected.

A further object is a phonograph which is so designed that any desired number of selections, including duplicate selections of the same record, may be made and played without regard to, o limitation by, the number of records.

A still "further object is to provide a phonograph which is so constructed that additional records may be selectedfor play including the one being played, while the machine is in operation.

- A still further object is a phonograph in which above the turntable 20.

3 provision is made for cancelling a selection which may have been made either unintentionally or inadvertently.

A still further object is to provide a permanent record of such selections as may be made so as to enable the popularity of the various records to be determined.

A still further object is a novel design and arrangement of the parts of the phonograph, wherea by simplicity and economy in construction are insured.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic phonograph embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section through one of the record trays;

Figure 5 is an elevational view similar to Figure l but is of the opposite side of the machine;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 56 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along Figure 11a is a fragmentary view, in plan,

illustrating the arrangement of the switches of the control circuit, the view being taken along the line lldl.la of Figure 11;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view showing the arrangement of the control elements of the se lector mechanism;

, Figure 13 is a detail section illustrating the cancelling switch;

Figure 14 is a wiring diagram of the control circuits;

Figure 15 shows a top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure Figure 16 is across sectional view as seen in the direction ofthe arrows along the line iG-Hi of Figure I Figure 17 is an end view as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line l'i-l'l of Figure 15.

The various mechanisms of the phonograph, as illustrated, are mounted upon a chassis i5 which is adapted to be housed in a suitable cabinet. A plurality of records 46 are supported in individual trays I? which are pivotally mounted by arms [8 upon a post l9 which rises upwardly above the floor of the chassis. The trays l! are arranged in a vertical series at one side of a turntable 26, each tray being held against a common stop 21 (Figure 2) by a spring 22. In the drawings ten record trays I! have been shown to indicate that a plurality of such trays are employed, it being understood that a different number of trays may be provided. Means is provided whereby any selected one of the trays ll may be moved to a position in which the record carried by it is supported directly The said means includes a double-threaded screw shaft 23 (Figure 6) which I Figure 2.

4 is mounted between the upper and'lower arms 24 and 25, respectively, of a bracket 26, the said bracket being pivotally supported by the said arms upon the post 59. The screw shaft 23 carries a holder 21 which in turn carries a contact brush 28, the latter fitting in a socket 29. A toothed element 30, which is located at the inner end of the said socket, engages the threads of the screw shaft so that a rotary movement of the latter will effect a reciprocating movement of the holder 27 between the upper and lower limits of the threaded section. The holder 2'! is formed or provided with a tail-piece 3i which is movable through slots 32 formed in the arms iii of the record trays when the latter occupy their normal positions in the series. The brush 2%: which is carried by the said holder is biased toward, and held against, a channel-shaped insulating bar 33 in which a series of contacts 34 are imbedded, each one of said contacts being identified with, and being located opposite, one of the arms l8 of the record trays.

Each of the contacts 3c is connected in series with a switch controlled by a record selecting or preselecting mechanism. One of these latter switches will be in open circuit condition to correspond to the record to be selected by the selector mechanism and hence when the brush 23 makes contact with a contact t l arranged in an open circuit the power supplied to the means for driving the screw shaft 23 will be interrupted. Further details of the apparatus involved and an explanation of the operation thereof will subsequently be given in connection with the circuit disclosure of Figure 14,

' When the tail-piece of the holder 21 is located in the slot 32 in one of the arms, the tray carried by the said arm may be moved to a position in which itsupports its record over the turntable by causing the bracketZS to pivot upon the post IS in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in To this end the arm of the said bracket carries a second arm 35, one end of which is connected by a link 36 (Figures 2 and 5) to the upper end of a lever 31. The latter is pivoted at its lower end to a horizontal member 31a of the chassis and carries a roller 38 which engages a cam 39, the said cam and a cam G0 being fixed to a cam shaft 4|.

The cams 39 and All arefixed to the cam shaft 4| which is arranged to make one complete revolution in each cycle of operation in the phonograph. The cam shaft M is arranged to be driven for a portion of a revolution to bring about a certain sequence of operations up to the time that a phonograph record is brought into position for reproduction. When a phonograph record has been completely reproduced, means actuated by the reproducing tone arm cause powerto be applied to the cam shaft H so that it completes its rotation to bring about the subsequent sequence of operation which restores the mechanism to its original condition corresponding to that at thebeginning of a cycle of operation.

A motor 42 serves to drive the cam shaft 4|, the shaft of the motor being connected through universal joints .43 to a drive shaft 44. The latter carries a worm gear 45 which meshes with a gear 46 loosely mounted on the cam shaft 4|. As the cam shaft makes only one complete revolution in each cycle of operation of the phonograph while a record is being selected, played and returned to its normal position and as the shaft 44 is driven continuously a clutch 41 (Figure 7) is utilized to connect the gear 46 to the cam shaft 4|. The said clutch includes a sleeve 48 which is splined to the cam shaft andwhich is movable axially thereon. At one end the said sleeve is formed with a head 49 which carries pins 50, the latter being adapted to enter sockets 5| formed in the adjacent face of the gear 46. A spring 5|a which is arranged on the shaft 4| between the cam 40 and the sleeve 48 is normally operative to clutch the gear 46 to the saidshaft. Hence when the clutch 41 is engaged, the motor 42 is connected to rotate the cam shaft 4| and the cam 39 is operative to move the lever 31 forward, the movement of the said lever being transmitted to the bracket 26. Thelatter, therefore, is pivoted on the post |9 to swing the tray whose arm is engaged by the tail-piece 3| of the holder 21 to a position in which the record carried-by the tray is supported over the turntable 20. v

Mechanism is provided for elevating the turntable 26, when a record tray has been moved over it in the manner described, whereby to lift the record out of the tray and carry it into cooperating relation with the needle 52 of the tone arm .53, or reproducer, of the phonograph .(see dotted line position of turntable in Figure 1), it being noted in this connection that the record trays, as best shown in Figure 4, comprise an annular flanged ring defining an opening of a larger diameter than the turntable and through which the latter passes as it is elevated in the manner described. Preferably a thin disc 54 of any suitable material is arranged in the ring under the record and is adapted to prevent warping of the latter. The elevating mechanism referred to includes an elongated spindle 55 which carries the turntable The said spindle is slidably mounted in a sleeve 56 which depends from the floor of the chassis. Its lower end rests upon an anti-friction ball 51 (Figure 3) which is carried by a bearing cup 58, whereby to insure free rotary movement of the spindle, and hence of the turntable. The bearing cup 58 is supported upon the outer end of one arm 59 of a bell crank lever 59a by links 60, the other arm 6| (Figure 1) of the said lever carrying a roller 62 which engages the cam 46. It will thus be apparent that after the cam 39 has moved a record tray over the turntable it is.

operative to hold the tray in such position, while the cam 40 is operative to elevate the turntable to lift the record out of the tray and move it into engagement with the needle of the tone arm.

Referring to Figure '7, it will be noted that the clutch sleeve 48 is formed with a cut-away portion 63 which provides a cam face 63a. The latter is engaged by the free end of an arm 64 whichis mounted upon a rock shaft 65. The free end of the arm 64, acting against the cam face 63a, effects the disengagement of the clutch sleeve from the gear 46 as the turntable reaches the upper limit of its range of movement. The turntable, therefore, remains in such position while the record is being played.

The freeend of the arm 64 acting on the cam surface 63a moves the cam surface against the action of the spring 5|a until the fingers 50 have been withdrawn from the sockets 5| in the driving gear wheel 46. The gear wheel 46 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 4| continues to rotate but the cam shaft 4| stops when the clutch is disengaged. Thus the sequence of operations controlled by the cams on the cam shaft 4| is stopped to permit reproduction of the phonograph record on the turntable. When reproduction of the phonograph record l6 has been completed the rock shaft v65 is rotated, as'subsequent ly will become apparent, to move thefree endof the lever 64- away-from the cam surface-63 to permit the clutch to engage the driving gear 'mounted .on the sleeve 56 and is drivenbya worm gear 68 which is fixed to the drive shaft .44;

- The tone arm 53 is pivotally'mounted on the upper. end of a vertical shaft 69 andnormally occupies a position in which it abuts'a' stop :16

(Figure 1-), thesaid stop holding the tone arm in a position which will insure engagement of the needle with theproperportion of the sound groove When a' recordis elevated to playingmosition. In order that the parts may bereturned to their original positions when the record has been played, an armlll (Figures 5 and his secured'to the lower end of the shaft69. The said I arm carries a pawl 72 which engages the-outer end of a horizontal arm 73 of a rock member.l4, the said member being pivotally mounted upon a shaft 15 and having a depending arm 16 which pro ects under the outerend or a finger "l1 carried by the rockshait 65. i It will be noted that the outer. end of thehorizontalarm' 13 of the rock member 14 is formed 'withteeth 1 8. The latter are so formed that the' pawl I2 is -per-' mitted to slide over them towardthe outer: end of the arm 13 as the needle of the tone arm moves'toward the center of the record. However, as 'playing of the record is completed and i the needle enters the eccentric oval 19 (Fig-- ure 2 anoscillating movement is imparted to the shaft 69, and hence to the pawl 12'. The particular tooth 18 on the arm 13 which is engaged by the pawl- 12 during such movementof the shaft 69 causes the member 14 torock: on the shaft 15. This movement is transmitted-to the rock shaft 65 by the arm 16 and the finger 11, thereby lifting the arm 64 so that the free end thereof is moved upwardly out of engagement with the cam face 63a. The clutch-sleeve 48 is thus released and the spring Blu is operative to clutch the gear 46 to the cam shaft 4|. As the latter rotates the roller 62 gradual-1y rides down the rear side of the cam 40 and the turntable returns to its lower position. Cam'39 has, in the meantime, held the record tray out over the turntable and now allows the roller 38 to ride down the rear side thereof to permit the spring 22 to return the record tray with its record to its normal position. As thecam 39 rotates further, it strikes a roller (Figure-5) whichds carried by a pivotally mounted lever 8| and causes an arm 82 carried-by the latter to engage the arm II and actuate the latter to re-v turn the tone arm to its normal positionagainst the: cam face 5.3a on the sleeve 48 until. the latterhas moved to a. predetermined angular po-J sition-the said sleeve: is formed with a. second head B.3i'.(F.igures '7 andB) .whichis inuthe form of a cam and which cooperates with a pin 84 carriedby the outer end of the arm. The cam Fromthe foregoing it will be apparent that during the first portion of the revolution of the cam shaft Al in each operating cycle of the phonograph, the .free end of the lever .Mis in engagement. with the cam surface 63a of the clutchv 63 so that the clutch is moved against theiaction' .of the springbla so that the pin. on the-arm 54 is no longer in position to engage thecain. surface 83. .As has been explained the rotation of the cam shaft 4] is stopped by the disengagementoi the clutch,v and subsequently whenthe phonograph record. has been reproduced, the position of thetonearm brings about anactuation of the rock shaft .65. so as to raise the lever .64 to permit the. spring 51a to actand to. place the cam surface 83 in-contact. with, the ninttat the end of the arm .64... ,The pin 841s in position on the cam 83 during the .latterpQr-r tionv of the revolution of the cam shaft 4L The selection of aparticular record involves rotationof the screw shaft 2 to movev the ail: piece .31 of the holder 2'! into the slot 32 in the arm of the tray. in which the said record is u ported. Rotation of the. .scr w shaft 23 i effecte by a .inotor 85 which is mounted upon the arm 35., the ro or of the said motor c rryi g a-pinion BliWhich meshes with a gear 8'l fixed to the lower endof the screw shaft. Since the arm '35 which carries the ,motor85. is secured to the bracket .26., the driv g relation between the motor 85 and the vgearfll is maintained during pivotal'movement of the bracketed The a mechanism for controlling the screw shaft. .23 toenable the selection of the desired records; includes two series of buttons 88 (Fig ures .11 and 12) which project through Suitable openings a panel 89 of the cabinet. of the machine and which are conveniently accessible, Oneof the said buttons is identified withveach of. the records of the machine, there being an additional button 90 (Figure 12) for cancelling a selection when this is desired. The buttons 88 and 50 are carried by push bars, 9! (Fig: me 11,) which are mounted in suitable guide openings formed in upper and lower cross meme hers 92 and 9.3, respectively, of a frame 94. The said push .bars are formed at their lower ends to provide punch pins 95 and are normally held in upper, or retracted, positions by springs 96 which are arranged around the stem portions of the :push bars between the cross member 92 and the,.pane1 89. The body portions 91; of the push barsare offset toward one another so that the punch pins 95 are located in a substantially straight line. i A die bar .98 is located under,;and in. spaced relation with respectto, the punch pins '95 and is formed with openings. 99 for ac: commodating the punch pins. A strip of paper or equivalent tape H passes over the die bar 98 between the latter and the punch pins '95 the said tape being unwound from a roll NH.

,As will subsequently become apparent, the push buttons 88 can be actuated only after a coin or coins have been inserted the coin chute of thephonograph; and thenumber of times that the buttons .83 may be actuatedis controlled in accordance with the value of the coin or coins received. The manner in which the coins placed in the coin chute renders effective the operation of the phonograph and controls the number of selections to be made and played will be'fully described. when reference is made to Figure 14 showing the electric circuit diagram. The appalratus in FigurelO, however, utilizes a certain electro-mechanical apparatus which serves to control the number'- of times the push buttons 88 may be actuated. This apparatus includes an auxiliary frame lBl connected to' the frame I66 in the proximity of. the roller HQ, best shown in Figuresrl5 to -17. The shaft Hi9. which supports the roller HE is arranged to extend through the frameilfifi toasuitable bearing 32 positioned in one side of the auxiliary frame 181. A suitable stop collar. N33 isfastened to the shaft I09 to retain; the shaft in proper position. Adjacent the main-frame there is loosely mounted on the shaft 169 an arm or plate having thereon a. stud [.85. The arm or collar 584 is .corniected to a sleeve which is connected to the ratchet wheel 38.8. so'that these parts move together. When .all of the records selected at any timehave been mounted on shaft Hi9 and is'biased by a spring l9il bearing against a .U-collar 20%) toward the disk or arm I84.

Aspreviously stated the buttons v88 are carried by push bars .91 having shoulders H33 adapted to engage a cross rod. :l-M tocause the ratchet wheel 598 to be actuated. Theratchet wheel I68 is connected bya spring H2 to the roller llil to cause the roller to drive the tape forwardly. The ratchet "38, however, cannot be moved. when the studs I85 and 186 are'adjacent each other and hence the-cross bar IM will not permit the but! tons .88 to be depressed .sulhciently to engage the tapelllfl.

To permit selection to be made by the buttons .88 a coinor coins inserted in the .coin chute will close an electric circuit to supply power to a solenoid L83. The solenoid ltd-is energiz d one 7 orniore times in accordance with the value of the coins received by the coin chute.

W c in turn :is connected to. the lower end of a pivoted lever 1:92. {the pivoted lever which is pivotedat It; carries 'atits upper end a.1piv0t pawl A94. The pawl is limited in movement in one directionbyza pin or stud The auxiliary irame t8! carries a bracket me which pivotally supports an escapement lever is! pivoted at I98. frhe pawl 13;! and the escapement lever 19? are biased toward each other. by a spring .539 supported from suitable 2,3! and 232 mounted on the-pawl and lever respectively. The escapernent lever I9? is limited in its upward movement by a stud i 'fiamounted at intermediate point on the lever LS2. When the solenoid I83 is energized, the core {89 is drawn into the solenoid so as. to ctu e l r 8 ..'I1h up er-e d o the lever iiilz 't'herefore moves toward the ratchet wheel .181. In so moving the stop pin 2&3 rides along the-upper surface of the escapement lever [9i to cause this lever to be moved downwardly away from the ratchet wheel 1.8 3.. The pawl I94 then moves forwardlyto engage-one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 81 to move it one unit of distance so ,.a s to separate the studs i 85 and [8.6. This The sole "noid I88 has its core E89 connected to a link ml senses of coins are inserted in the coin chute the solenoid I88 is energized a plurality of times so that the ratchet wheel I8? is moved forwardly a plurality of times thereby separating the studs I85 and I86 Sufilciently to permit th selection of a number of records. The solenoid I88 is suitably supported by a bracket 204 secured to the auxiliary frame I8I.

'When one or more records are selected for play those of the buttons 88 which correspond to the said selections are depressed one after the other. As each button is actuated its push bar moves downward and causes the punch pin carried thereby to pass through the tape I00, thereby producing a perforation I02 (Figure 10) in the tape which has a predetermined location with respect to the marginal edges thereof. The body portions of the push bars 9! are formed with shoulders I 83 (Figure 11) which overhang a cross rod I04. The latter extends crosswise of the tape and is carried by links I05 which are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to side plates I06 of the frame 94. One of the links I05 carries a pawl I07 which engages a ratchet wheel I08. The latter is loosely mounted on the shaft I09 of an upper drive rollv I I0, the cooperating lower drive roll being indicated at III. A coil spring H2 is arranged around the shaft I09 (Figure 10) in a recess I I3 in one end of the roll I I0, one end of the said spring being secured to the said roll while the other end is secured to the ratchet Wheel I08.

It will be apparent that when a push bar 9| is actuated in the manner described, the cross rod I04 is moved downwardly, thereby rotating the ratchet wheel I08 in a counterclockwise direction to place the spring H2 under tension. A second pawl H4 (Figure 11) permits the ratchet wheel to be rotated as described but prevents rotation of the ratchet wheel in the opposite direc tion when the push bar is released and returns to its normal position under the influence of its spring 96. As the punch pin 95 is withdrawn from the perforation which it has made in the'tape the spring H2 causes the feed roll IIO to rotate to advance the tape a step so that when a secondrolls H0 and III under a take-up roller H'I,

over a platform I I 8 and between a second pair of feed rolls H9 and I20, the shaft I2I of the feed roll I carrying a gear I22 which meshes with a drive pinion I23 fixed to the armature shaft of a motor I24. It will be apparent from the foregoing, assuming that the feed rolls H9 and I20 are stationary, that as the feed rolls H0 and II I advance the tape step-by-stepduring operation of the push bars 9!, slack will be produced between the two sets of feed rolls. This slack will, however, be taken up by the roller I H, the latter being carried by a rod I25 which is pivotally connected to the platform I I3 by arms I25a and be ing-biased toward the dotted-line position shown in Figure 11 by springs I20 which are connected at one end to extensions I27 of the arms I25a and at their opposite ends to a depending portion of the platform.

A shaft I28 is mounted between the side plates I06 of the frame 94 above and just beyond the inner end of the platform H8. The said shaft provides a pivotal mounting for a series of loose collars I29, each of which carries acontact arm I30 and finger I3I. The latter extends angularly' downwardly toward the platform I I8 and engages the paper strip over an elongated slot 532 which is formed lengthwise of the said platform. A spring I33 which is located betweeneach contact arm and a cross member I34 urges the contact arm in a clockwise direction, whereby to cause the finger I3I to enter the slot I32 and permit the, contact arm to move away from a contact I35 which is carried by an insulating bar I36 and which it normally engages. Entry of the fingers I3I into the slot I32 is normally prevented, how-i ever, by the tape I00. The switches I37 provided by the contact arms I30 and the contacts I35 are. thus normally closed, these switches correspond-; ing in number to the selector buttons 88;

The fingers I 3| are located in line with the punch pins 95. Hence when one of the said pins,-

has been actuated to produce a perforation in The switch I31 which is provided by the said c0n-.

tact arm and contact is thus opened.

The movement of any one of the contact arms I30 in the manner described is utilized to open, a switch I38 which is included in the circuit of, the motor I24 (the motor which drives the feed rolls H9 and I20 for the tape I00) and close a switch I39 which is included in the circuit of the main motor 42. For this purpose a collar I 40 carries an arm I4I which is normally held in en-. gagement with a contact I42 of the switch I38 by. a spring I43a. The fingers I 3I which overlie a bail I43 are operative, as they move downwardly, however, to pass through the perforations in the tape I00 to rotate the bail about the shaft I 28.-

The bail is loosely mounted on the said shaft andis suitably connected to the collar I40 so that its movement is transmitted to the contact arm I4I; thereby moving the latter into engagement with a contact I44 of the switch I39 against the action;

of the spring I43a.

Referring to Figure 14, it will be noted that the; contact I35 of each of the switches I3! is con-- nected by a wire I45 to one of the contactstraversed by the brush 23 while the contact arms I30 are connected by a common wire I46 toone power line I47. The other power line I40 is con contact I49 and a contact I 53. The latter is con nected by a wire I54 to one side of the 1110001585,?

the other side of the said motor being connected by a wire I55, the screw shaft 23 and the holder 21 to the brush 28.

In order to initiate operation of the phone graph one or more coins are inserted in a coin: chute 205 which is provided with a plurality of:

selective branches 206 and 201 to accommodate 11 coins of different values. The various branches 286 and 291, of which there may be a greater number than shown, eventually dispose the coins in a coin box 208. To illustrate the general operation, the coin chute 266 has a value of one unit of play and is provided with a cam 289 which is actuated to momentarily close a normally open circuit switch 2II. The other branch 2G? of the coin chute 285 illustrates a branch which accommcdates a coin having a greater value so as to actuate a plurality of switches, and hence is provided with a plurality of cams 2 I 2 and 2 I 3 arranged to momentarily close normally open on cuit switches 2M and 2 I5. The switches 2! I, 2 I4, and 2I5 are connected in a circuit, one side of which is directly connected to the power line conductor I47. The other side of these switches is connected to one side of the solenoid I38 which in turn is connected to the other power conductor I48. Therefore each time that any of the switches 2| I, 2I4, and 2I5 are actuated, the solenoid I88 is energized to advance the ratchet wheel I87. This'separates the studs I85 and IB-Sshown in Figure 15 a distance suificient to permit the re: quired number of operations of the selected push buttons 88 shown in Figure 11. The switches associated with the coin chute 205 are also con nected to a play accumulator or" the type commonly known in the art having for example an energizing relay orsolenoid 2| 5 arranged to actuate an escapement 2I'I associated with a spring biased ratchet wheel 2I8. Each time that the solenoid 2H3 is actuated, the escapement member 2I'I permits the ratchet wheel 2 I8 to advance the distance of one tooth. The play accumulator ratchet wheel 2I8 is provided with a pin 2I9 arranged to hold open a normally closed switch I58. As soon as the relay 2I6 is energized to advance the escapement wheel 2 I 8, the switch I59 is closed for a purpose which subsequently will become apparent.

An arrangement has been provided for canceling a selection by the actuation of a push button 90. The push bar SI supporting the bush button 90 is provided with a pin 22! arranged to actuate a switch222 having normally closed contacts 223 and normally open contacts 224. The normally closed contacts 223 are in circuit between the switches of the coin chute 295 and the play accumulator solenoid or relay 2 I6. The normally open contacts 224 are connected between the one power conductor I47 and one side of the solenoid I88 so that upon cancellation the ratchet wheel I8! is advanced one unit to permit a succeeding selection to be made. The play accumulator is not actuated at this time since the play accumulator is reset only at the end of each phonograph record.

The selector buttons 88 which are identified with the records which it is desired to play are depressed one after the other. As each selector button is actuated it produces a perforation in the tape I00, the latter being advanced one step as the selector button is released and returns to its normal position and the spring I I2 rotates the feed rolls Hi3 and Hi. When the switch I5!) is closedthe solenoid I5I moves the switch bar I52 to connect the contacts I49 and. I53 and current is supplied to the motor 85, thereby rotating the screw shaft 23 to cause the holder 2'! to move up and down upon it. It will be noted that as the holder 21 moves from one end of the screw shaft to the other, each of the contacts 34 (and the wire I45 and switch I31 by which the contact is connected to the wire I46) is included in the motor circuit andthe motor will continue to operate so long as all or" the switches it? remain closed. The motor I24: which drives feed rolls H5 and I20 for the tape IE9 is, however, connected in parallel with the motor 35 as the switch I38 is normally closed, one side of the motor I24 being connected to the contact M2 by wires I56 and I5? while the contact arm MI is connected to the wire I46. The other side of the motor I34.

is connected by wires I58 and I58 to the wire I54. The motors and I2I are, therefore, connected to power simultaneously. The motor I25. drives the feed rolls I I9 and 529' until the first perforation I02 which has been punched in the tape I99 moves over theslot 532 in the platform I I8. When this occurs the finger ISI which is aligned with he said perforation passes through I '34 as described until it -moves,-as illustrated, into full alignment with the contact which is con nected by a wire I45 to the switch. I31 which is open. When this occurs the circuit through the motor 85 is broken and the holder '2! is arrested in a position in which the tail-piece 3! is located in the notch 32 of the arm I8 of the tray H which carries the record selected to be played.

When the contact arm I41. is moved to break 7 the circuit of the motor I24 it engages the contact I44 to connect the main motor 32 of the phonograph in parallel with the motor 85, one side of the motor 42 being connected to the contact I44 by a wire I60 while the other side of the motor The is connected by a wire It! to the wire IE9. motors 42 and 85, therefore, operate together momentarily. The leading end of the cam (it (Figure 5), however, is spaced from the roller,

38 so that before it moves into engagement with the said roller the circuit of the motor 85 will have been broken in the manner described. After movement of the tail-piece 3! of he holder 2? into the notch 32 of the arm of the proper record tray the motor 42 is operative, through the agency of the cam 39, to move the lever 31 forward and thereby rotate the bracket 25 upon the post I9 to swing the'tray carrying the selected record to a predetermined position over the turn table. While the tray is held in this position the cam 40 comes into play, actuating the bell crank lever 59a to elevate the turntable to lift the record out of the tray and carry it to a position in which the needle of the tone arm enters the sound groove. As the record is moved upwardly to a playing position the clutch collar 65 engages the gear 6! and the turntable is rotated, the clutch 4'! being actuated at this time to disconnect the cam shaft 4| from the gear 46.

Upon entry of the needle of the tone arm into the eccentric oval position of the sound groove, playing of the record having been completed, the

clutch 41 is actuated to again connect the gear As rotation of the latter is resumed the turntable is lowered to its normal 56 to the cam shaft 4I.

roller 80 and the tone arm is returned to its original position. As the cam shaft 4! approaches its original position a cam I62 (Figure 14) whichis carried by it engages a contact arm I63 of-anormally open switch I64 and momentarily closes the latter. The contact arm I63 being connected by a wire I65 toa contact I66 which is engaged by the contact arm I 4 I ,.current is supplied to the motor I24 and the latter is operative to advance the paper strip I90. As this occurs the particular finger I3I which to this time has been located in one of the perforations, is forced out of the perforation and again rides upon the paper strip. The.

pivotal movement of the finger as it movesout of the perforation is transmitted to its contact arm I30 and the latter is moved to close the switch I31 of which it is a part. At the sametime, the bail I 43 is released and the spring I 43a moves the contact arm IM to open the switch I39 of the main motor 42 and close the switch I 39 of the motor I24.1 If at this time the switch I50 is still closed, the motor I24 is operative to drive the feed rolls II 9 and I20 and the tape I is advanced until the next perforation I02 moves over the slot I32 in the platform H8 and the finger which is in alignment with it passes to a resilient member I68 of a normally closed switch I69, the other member I19 of the switch being connected to one side of the solenoid I5I. The solenoid I5I, therefore, is operative tomaintain the connection of the lines I46 and I54 to power after they have been once connected by closing of the switch I50. In order to provide for breaking of the power circuit after all of the selected records have been played a bell crank I1I is mounted in the vicinity of the switch I69. Onearm of the bell crank is connected by a link I12 to the lower end of the lever 31 of Figures 1 and 2 while the other arm carries a dog I13.-

The latter is pivotally mounted so that asv the bell crank is rocked in a clockwise direction dur-t ing forward movement of the lever 31 to swing a record tray over the turntable it will pivot against. the resistance of a spring H311 and swing aside as it passes the end of the resilient switch member However, when playing of the record has record by the dog I13, the switch I remains closed as long as any selections still remainto be-played. If at this time the switch I 50 is openthe solenoid circuit will be broken and the contact bar I52 will move away from the contacts I49, I53 and I61. It will thus be apparent, as-

suming that the switch I50 is a conventional coin:

switch and that a plurality of records have been selected, that the switch I50 will remain closed 1 until the playing of the final record has begun..

The opening of the switch I69 after the playing of each record will, therefore, have no efiect upon the power circuit. The switch I50 will, however,

be opened after playing of the final record. Hence when the switch'I69 is opened after thisrecord is played the power circuit will be broken.

In accordance with the invention means is pro-- vided for cancelling a record which has been selected. The said means includes a punch I14;

(Figure 10) which is carriedby a push bar similar to those which carry the punches 95 and which may be actuated by the button 90 (Figure- 12). Referring to Figure 10, it will be noted that; the punch I14 is so located with respect to the punches 95 that it will be in alignment (cross wise-of the sheet) with respect to the initial. position to which any perforation made by the latter is advanced. A perforation made by the punch I14 thus advances with theone made by. the punch 95 and they both move to a position over the slot I32 in the platform I I 8 at the same instant. When this occurs a finger I15 (Figure. 13) passes through the perforation produced by the punch I14 and permits a contact arm I16 to engage a contact I11 which is connected to the wire I51 (Figure 14).

is thus momentarily established and the motor I24 continues to operate to advance the tape I00 until the next "perforation in the strip effects.

the playing of a selectedrecord.

The useof .a tape to'control the the-selections aremade. Such selections may be made without-regard'to the number of records in the collection and-may include any of the records, including the one which is playing at' the-time, any desired number of times. If during playing of? record additional selections are de- 'siredto be made this may be done without interbeen completed and the lever 31 is retracted tov cause the bell crank I1I to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the dog I 13 is operative, after.

the switch I64 has been momentarily closed for the purpose and in the manner described and the Various parts restored to their original positions, to momentarily open the switch I69, 2. pin I13b preventing pivotal movement of the dog during,

such movement of the lever.

Each time that the dog I13 actuates the switch I69, a cooperating pair of contacts 225 is closed to supply power to a reset solenoid 223 whichmoves its armature 221 so as to step the ratchet wheel 2I8 one unit toward its original position The switch I50 remains open until the total number of records played equals the total number of units accumulated by the successive operation of the solenoid 2I6. While the switch I69 is actuated at the end of the reproduction of each fering with the operation of the machine.

It is to be noted thatthe perforation produced byeach of the punches has a characteristic location with respect to the marginal edges of the tape, such location being different from thatproduced by each of the remaining punches. vIn other words, each time the same record is played a perforation is made in the tape which has the 1 This has the advantage that the tape provides a permanent record which willnot only indicate the number of times the,

same lateral position.

phonograph has been played but will also indicate the number of times the individual records-have been played.

While for the purpose of illustrating amidescribing. the present invention, there has beenshown in the drawings a certain embodiment, it is to be understood-that the invention :is not to be limited thereby since such variationsin the instrumentalities employed and in their arrange-'1 ment and that of the associatedcircuits are contemplated as may be commensurate with the pirit and scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

An auxiliary circuit,. independent of that controlled by the switch I38,.

playing. of the records of the phonograph has the advantage that the records are played in the order in which.

This invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An automatic coin controlled phonograph:

comprising a reproducer means, a record magazine having a plurality of records, a mechanism for selectively presenting a record from said magazine into operative engagement with said in operative relation to said tape to produce a' perforation therein at each projection stroke in a location corresponding to a particular record, means operatively connecting said selector elements with one set of feed rollers for advancing said tape,'-a unit of distance as an incident of the operation of each of said elements, separable means interconnected with and for operation in response to operation of said coin controlled meehanism under influence of the value of the coins received in said chute for correspondingly limiting the number of actuations of said selector elements, means for advancing the other set of feed rollers, and means rendered operative by the predetermined positioning of the perforations as the tape moves and operatively connected to the record selective mechanism for controlling the playing of records, said last named means including an operative connection to the advancing means of said second named set of feed rollers for stopping the action thereof while playing of a record is in progress. v

2. In a coin controlled automatic phonograph, a movable tape adapted to be perforated, a plurality of normally retracted but projectable preselector punches disposed crosswise of said tape between the marginal edges thereof to' produce perforation in said tape at difierent locations corresponding to the records selected, a coin chute, means including relatively abutting elements interconnected with said preselector punches for limiting the number of actuations of said punches, means responsive to'the coins received in said coin chute for separating said elements in'accordance with the value of the received coins to permit corresponding actuations of the punches, feed rollers in operative contact with the tape, and means interconnecting said feed rollers and said punches for advancing said tape a given distance whenever one of said punches is actuated within the allowed number of actuations.

'3 An automatic phonograph comprising means for reproducing phonograph records, a magazine containing a collection of records, a selector mechanism for presenting a record from said magazine to said reproducing means, and coin controlled means including selective coin responsive control devices for preselecting any of said records and for subsequently automatically efiecting operation of said selector mechanismto reproduce selected records in the order selected,

said'means including, a movable tape, two sets of I feed rollers for actuating said tape, a plurality necting said preselector elements with one set'of said feed rollers for advancing said tape a certain? distance as a result of the operation of each said element, means controlled by said coin responsive control devices for limiting the number of times said selector elements may be projected, other means for advancing the other set of feed rollers, and means including a plurality of switch arms adapted to selectively penetrate a tape perforaj tion for controlling the operation of said selector mechanism, said latter means including an operative connection to the advancing means of said second named set of feed rollers for governing the actuation thereof at a predetermined time in each cycle of operation of said selector mechanism.

4. In an automatic phonograph, a selector" mechanism comprising a plurality of record carriers each'carrying a different phonograph record and pivoted on a common pivot post, a selectively operable record carrier actuating mechanism including a bracket pivoted to said post, a re-j ciprocable member, driving means therefor and carried by said bracket, a plurality of electrical contacts each corresponding to one of said carriers and adapted to be engaged successively by said reciprocable member, means including a switch for deenergizing said driving means when said re' ciprocable member engages a predetermined selected electrical contact, and means interconnect-' ing said reciprocable member with a record carrier corresponding to the selected electrical contact whereby the carrier may be rotated about the pivot post with the bracket. r

- 5. In an automaticphonograph, the combination comprising a selective record predetermining mechanism, a pluralityof record carriers for phonograph records adapted to be moved into reproducing position, and a phonograph record selector mechanism comprising 'a reciprocable path and each corresponding to a different one of said carriers, means carried by said reciprocable member for traversing the path of said contacts and engaging successively said electrical contacts, means controlled by said predetermining mechanism for stopping said screw driving means when the reciprocable member engages the electrical contact corresponding to the selected rec- 0rd carrier, and means interconnecting said reciprocable member with the selected record carrier for moving the-carrier to reproducing position.

'6. In an automatic phonograph, the combina tion comprising a magazine having record trays for a collection of phonograph records eachsupported in a separate record tray, mechanism for selectively predetermining which of said records are to be reproduced, a reciprocable member adapted to be aligned with a selected predetermined record tray, said reciprocable member carrying an electrical contact element, a plurality of electrical contacts each corresponding to a difierent one of said trays and being arranged in the path of movement of said reciprocablecontact element for successive engagement therewith, means interconnecting said plurality of contacts with said selective record predetermining mechanism, means responsive to the engagement of said reciprocable contact element with a pre- 1 selected one of said plurality of contacts for arresting the motion of said reciprocable member, said record trays having registering slots in normal position thereof and said reciprocable memher having a projection traversing said slots during movement thereof and engaging the slot of the preselected record tray, and mechanism actuated by said record predetermining mechanism and including the interengaged projection of the reciprocable member and slot of the selected record tray for moving th selected record tray to a position Where the record thereon may be reproduced.

7. An automatic coin controlled phonograph comprising a reproducing means, a record magazine for a plurality of records disposed adjacent said reproducing means, a mechanism for selectively presenting a record from said magazine into operative engagement with said reproducing means, a coin chute for receiving coins, coin controlled means operable in response to coins received in said coin chute for selecting a plurality of records and for automatically effecting the operation of said mechanism, to play selected records in sequence, and including a selectively operable record preselector and a record medium, said preselector having a plurality of selectively operable members, each corresponding to a record in said record magazine, and disposed with respect to said record medium when actuated to place indicia on said record medium for indicating thereon the number of times each record is played, wherefrom its popularity may be determined, and means including plural elements each selectively responsive to the previously placed indicia on said medium and operatively associated with said mechanism for controlling the said operation of the mechanism.

8. A check controlled multirecord phonograph comprising a turntable, reproducing means associated therewith, a magazine for a plurality of phonograph records disposed adjacent said reproducing means, record shifting means including record selector means for selectively presenting a record from said magazine into operative engagement with said reproducing means, preselector mechanism including a plurality of selectively operable selector members, each corresponding to a record in said magazine, and a movable record tape to receive a characteristic alteration from each actuated selector member, coin controlled means including an electric circuit and switches controlling the number of actuations of said selector members and said record shifting means, and plural sensing devices each responsive to a corresponding characteristic alteration in said tape and including switch means for efiecting operation of said record selector means to present a record to the reproducing means in accordance with the selection of records by said preselector mechanism.

9. A check controlled multirecord phonograph as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magazine includes movable record carriers each having connector means adapted for selective engagement with the record selector means and movable thereby for presenting a preselected record to said reproducing means.

10. A check controlled multirecord phonograph as claimed in claim 9, wherein the record selector means includes a movable member adapted to traverse the record carriers in the magazine and to interengage with the connector means of a selected record carrier.

11. A check controlled multirecord phonograph as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selector mem- I gageable with a corresponding perforation in the record tape.

EDWARD A. EBERT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 28,463 Felt May 29, 1860 320,272 Munson June 16, 1885 332,419 Munson Dec. 15, 1885 906,704 Grommet Dec. 15, 1908 1,026,243 Drewell May 14, 1912 1,105,920 Potts Aug. 4, 1914 1,268,472 Kellum June 4, 1918 1,359,465 Piersen Nov. 16, 1920 1,387,642 Douglass Aug. 16, 1921 1,595,241 Nelson Aug. 10, 1926 1,941,916 Rothermel Jan. 2, 1934 1,976,600 Carroll Oct. 9, 1934 1,983,759 Houston Dec. 11, 1934 2,002,236 Wilcox May 21, 1935 2,047,749 Small July 14, 1936 2,084,443 Huffaker June 22, 1937 2,096,718 Hok-anson Oct. 26, 1937 2,318,526 Rockola May 4, 1943 2,342,652 Eakins Feb. 29, 1944 2,371,491 Wright Mar. 13, 1945 2,391,246 Kenney Dec, 18, 1945 2,398,067 Winkler Apr. 9, 1946 2,431,646 Kenney et al Nov. 25, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 312.196 Great Britain of 1928 

